presbyteros · elder

What it means

presbyteros (πρεσβύτερος) is a Greek word of the Bible that means “elder”.

An older man; also the leaders of a people or of a community.

How to say it

Approximate pronunciation. Vowels sound as in Spanish (a as in father, e as in bed, i as in machine, o as in note, u as in rule); the syllable in bold is stressed. The voice is your device's.

Its senses in the Bible

1. A person older than others, or advanced in years.
2. A leader of the people or of believers.

From Abbott-Smith (1922) · Thayer (1889)

Word study

Elder: comparative of πρέσβυς, the older one. From there the elders as leaders: of the Jewish people, of the assemblies of believers, and the twenty-four of Revelation.

• The older in age Luke 15:251 Timothy 5:2
• The elders of the people, with high priests and scribes Matthew 16:21Mark 14:53
• “The tradition of the elders” Mark 7:3
• The elders of the assemblies Acts 14:23Acts 15:6James 5:14
• The twenty-four elders Revelation 4:4

Historical and cultural background

Paul and Barnabas “appointed elders for them in every assembly” (Acts 14:23), and Paul left Titus in Crete to “appoint elders in every town” (Titus 1:5).

How we translate it

“Elders” 58 times and “elder” 3. This edition's glossary sets presbyteros = “elder”, with no deviations, also for the leaders of the assemblies: it is the same term as “the elders” of the people beside the high priests and scribes (Matthew 16:21). When it only marks age, “older” (“his older son”, Luke 15:25; “older women”, 1 Timothy 5:2); in Hebrews 11:2 it keeps “the elders”.

How it is translated

The words this translation uses for it, most frequent first.

• elders ×58
• elder ×3
• older ×3
• old men ×1

Related words

Words of the same family, by Strong’s numbering.

Where it appears

• Matthew×12
• Mark×7
• Luke×5
• Acts×18
• 1 Timothy×4
• Titus×1
• Hebrews×1
• James×1
• 1 Peter×2
• 2 John×1
• 3 John×1
• Revelation×12

• Matthew 15:2

  “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”

• Matthew 16:21

  From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go away to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and high priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.

• Matthew 21:23

  And when he had come into the temple, the high priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, saying, “By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority?”

• Matthew 26:3

  Then the high priests and the elders of the people gathered in the courtyard of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,

• Matthew 26:47

  And while he was still speaking, look, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the high priests and elders of the people.

• Matthew 26:57

  Those who had seized Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered.

• Matthew 27:1

  When morning came, all the high priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus so as to put him to death.

• Matthew 27:3

  Then Judas, who had handed him over, seeing that he had been condemned, felt regret and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the high priests and elders,

• Matthew 27:12

  And while he was being accused by the high priests and elders, he answered nothing.

• Matthew 27:20

  But the high priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to destroy Jesus.

• Matthew 27:41

  In the same way the high priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders, were saying,

• Matthew 28:12

  And when they had gathered with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers,

• Mark 7:3

  (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands with the fist, holding to the tradition of the elders;

• Mark 7:5

  And the Pharisees and the scribes ask him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat the bread with defiled hands?”

• Mark 8:31

  And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the high priests and the scribes and be killed and after three days rise.

• Mark 11:27

  And they come again to Jerusalem. And as he was walking in the temple, the high priests and the scribes and the elders come to him

• Mark 14:43

  And at once, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrives, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the high priests and the scribes and the elders.

• Mark 14:53

  And they led Jesus away to the high priest; and all the high priests and the elders and the scribes come together.

• Mark 15:1

  And at once, early in the morning, the high priests, having held a council with the elders and scribes and the whole council, bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate.

• Luke 7:3

  And when he heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and save his slave.

• Luke 9:22

  saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and high priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”

• Luke 15:25

  Now his older son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.

• Luke 20:1

  And it happened on one of the days, as he was teaching the people in the temple and proclaiming the good news, that the high priests and the scribes came up with the elders,

• Luke 22:52

  And Jesus said to those who had come against him, high priests and captains of the temple guard and elders, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs?

• Acts 2:17

  ‘And it will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out from my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters will prophesy, and your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams;

• Acts 4:5

  And it happened on the next day that their rulers and the elders and the scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem,

• Acts 4:8

  Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders,

• Acts 4:23

  And when they were released, they went to their own people and reported all that the high priests and the elders had said to them.

• Acts 6:12

  And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and coming upon him, they seized him and brought him to the council,

• Acts 11:30

  which they also did, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

• Acts 14:23

  And when they had appointed elders for them in every assembly, praying with fasting, they entrusted them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

• Acts 15:2

  And when there was no small dissension and debate between Paul and Barnabas and them, they appointed Paul and Barnabas and some others of them to go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.

• Acts 15:4

  And when they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the assembly and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them.

• Acts 15:6

  And the apostles and the elders were gathered together to look into this matter.

• Acts 15:22

  Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole assembly, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas who was called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers.

• Acts 15:23

  They wrote by their hand: “The apostles and the elders, your brothers, to the brothers throughout Antioch and Syria and Cilicia who are from the nations: greetings.

• Acts 16:4

  And as they were going through the cities, they were delivering to them the decrees decided on by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem, for them to keep.

• Acts 20:17

  And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and summoned the elders of the assembly.

• Acts 21:18

  And on the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present.

• Acts 23:14

  they, going to the chief priests and the elders, said, “We have bound ourselves under a curse to taste nothing until we have killed Paul.

And 25 more times.